Cornet-mouthpiece.



L. E. TAYLOR.

CORNET MOUTHPIBCB.

. APPLICATION FILED TBB. 7, 1910. o 962,479. Patented June 28, 1910.

ga if ANDREW n uhmm cux PNcTo-umocnwnzks. wAsmmzwhLlhc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEON E. TAYLOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CORNET-MOUTHPIECE.

Application filed February 7, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON E. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cornet-Mouthpieces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mouth-pieces for cornets and similar musical instruments.

The object of my invention is the provision of a mouth-piece of the character mentioned which will be adapted to be formed or shaped to fit the individual formation, size, and shape of the lips of any person, and wherebyin performing, the performer may hold his head in a natural upright position and at the same time hold his instrument in a horizontal position.

A further object is the provision of a mouth-piece as mentioned by means of which a player may perform with greater ease and efliciency.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consist-s in a mouth-piece characterized as above mentioned and in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

F igure 1 is a side elevation of a mouthpiece embodying the preferred form of my invention, Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the wedge member included in my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the body of an ordinary mouth-piece comprising the shank portion 2 and the head portion 3, the contacting surface 4t of the latter, before said body is operated upon as in the course of incorporation of my improvement, being, as is ordinary, disposed at right angles to the bore of the mouthpiece. The contacting end portion of the head 3 adjacent the contacting surface thereof is transversely slitted as at 5, such slit extending, as seen, from the under side of the head portion to within a short distance of the opposite or upper side thereof. The free end portion 6 of said head is bent outwardly and a snugly fitting wedge member 7 of a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1910.

sei-iai No. 542,635.

crescent outline, inserted into the conse quently widened slit 5, the latter being secured in position therein preferably by solder. With this provision it will be seen that the disposition of the upper surface 8 of the contacting surface 1, or that portion which in use is positioned opposite the upper teeth of the performer will remain unaltered. From this portion the surface 4L will be gradually rearwardly inclined, the lower portion 9 of said surface being disposed, as the portion 8, at substantially right angles to the bore of the mouth-piece, the eXtreme lower extremity thereof being rounded. This design conforms to the shape of the lips, and prevents the tendency of the edges of the teeth to wear or to cut the lips, this being the fault with mouth-pieces of this nature now in use in which the inclined contacting surface is perfectly flat or is improperly curved. By forming the upper and lower portions of the bearing surface of the mouth piece at substantially right angles to the axis of the bore an extended and accurately tting bearing surface is provided for the corresponding portions of the lips, thus tending to prevent soreness and cutting of the lips at these points. With this construction, by simply varying the width of the wedge 7 any desired angular disposition of the contacting surface of the mouth-piece, in order to lit the peculiar form or relative disposition of individual jaws, may be effected. Further, with this construction any mouth-piece of ordinary form already in use may, with little labor and eX- pense, be formed or designed to fit any mouth.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferred form of my mouth-piece I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be various changes made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention. And although I have designed my device with special reference to cornets the same may be used in conjunction with any other instruments to which it is applicable.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mouth-piece for musical instruments of the class described having its contacting surface inclined rearwardly and downwardly, the inclination of said surface commencing well above the axis of the bore and the upper end portion of said surface being disposed at right angles to the direction of the mouth-piece, substantially as described.

2. A mouth-piece for musical instrument-s of the class described having is contacting surface inclined rearwardly and downwardly, the inclination of said surface commencing Well above the axis of the bore and the upper and lower end portions of said surface being disposed at right angles to the direction of the bore of the mouth-piece, substantially as described.

8. A mouth-piece for musical instruments of the class described having a transversely extending slit positioned adjacent the contacting surface thereof, said slit extending from the under side of said mouth-piece to within a short distance of the upper side thereof, and a wedge inserted in said slit forcing the lower portion of the contacting end of said mouth-piece rearwardly to an inclined position, substantially as described.

4. A mouth-piece for musical instruments of the class described having a transversely extending slit positioned adjacent the contacting surface thereof, said slit extending from the under side of said mouth-piece to wit-hin a short distance of the upper side thereof, the lower portion of the contacting end of said mouthpiece being bent rearwardly to an inclined position, and a snugly fitting wedge inserted into said slit and secured therein, substantially as described.

5. A mouth-piece for musical instruments of the class described having a transversely extending slit positioned adjacent the contacting surface thereof, said slit extending from the under side of said mouth-piece to within a short distance of the upper side thereof, the lower portion of the contacting end of lsaid mouthpiece being bent rearwardly to an inclined position, the lower portion of the cont-acting surface of said inclined contacting end being iiattened, and a wedge inserted into said slit and secured therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEON E. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

JANET E. HOGAN, HELEN F. LrLLIs. 

